Multiple inlet drinking straw



Oct. 9, 1951 l.. E. MITCHELL MULTIPLE INLET DRINKING STRAW Filed Deo. l, 1949 Patented ct. 9, i951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MULTIPLE INLET DRINKING s'rRAW Lexie E. Mitchell, Owensboro, Kyi Application December 1, 1949, serial No. 130,443

This invention relates to drinking straws used particularly in soft drinks and lmore particularly 4drinks having a plurality of products of different specic gravity therein wherein the different products may be suspended at different points in a glass or container, and in particular the invention relates to a drinking straw having spaced inlet openings extended throughout the length thereof with floating closures for the openings wherein the closures drop to close the opening as the level of a liquid in which the straw is positioned drops to position below the opening.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a drinking straw in which liquid Vin which the straw is positioned is drawn into the straw at a plurality of points and atV different elevations throughout the height of the liquid.

In the usual drinking straw which is formed with an inlet opening only at the lower end it is necessary to thoroughly vmix products in a container in which the straw is positioned and where products do not readily mix this is difcult and substantially impossible. With'th-s thought in lmind this invention contemplates a drinking straw having a plurality of spaced openings therein `so that the liquid may be with-drawn at a plurality of elevations and whereby the liquids drawn into the straw at the different elevations are thoroughly mixed as they are drawn upwardly through the straw.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for construction of a drinking straw whereby liquids in a container may be withdrawn at different points and whereby openings in the straw are closed as the liquid level drops below the openings.

Another ob'ject of the invention is-to provide a drinking straw having constricted passages therein providing a Venturi action whereby liquids of different densities drawn into the straw are thor.- oughly mixed by expanding and contracting in areas through which the liquids pass.

A further object of the invention is to provide a drinking straw for withdrawing a liquid from a container at a plurality of elevations in the container which is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view vthe invention embodies a drinking straw with the interior thereof formed with a plurality of units, with constricted portions in each unit and with openings covered by floating closures extended -through the wall of the straw and opening into the said constricted portions.

Other features and advantages will appear 3 Claims. (Cl. 299-17) from the following description taken in connection with the drawings wherein:

Figure l is a side elevational View showing a glass with a drinking straw positioned therein with part of the glass broken away and with openings in the wall of the straw positioned throughout the length of the straw.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the straw taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1. u

Figure 3 is a similar section on an enlarged scale showing the lower end of the straw with the upper part broken away.

Figure 4 is a cross section through the straw taken on line 4--4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a similar section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Referring now .to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the improved drinking straw of this invention is formed with a tubular casing I0 having spaced constricted portions Il therein with openings I2 extended from the outer wall into the said constricted or Venturi sections, and with floating closures I3 slidably mounted in guides I4 and I5 which provide tracks on the outside of the straw.

The lower end IG of the straw is formed with a converging cylindrical wall having comparatively thin edges I1 at the lower end and with the thickness thereof increasing toward the body of the straw.

Spaced above the lower end of the straw is the first constricted section I I which provides a Venturi action and the opening I2, which slopes upwardly enters the venturi just above the throatV thereof` as shown in detail in Figure 3.

The guides I4 and l5 are positioned on the outer surface of the casing I0 and the inner surfaces of the guides converge outwardly from the outer surface of the casing I0, as shown in Figure 4. With the inner surfaces of the guides I4 and I5 sloping in this manner and with the side surfaces I8 and I9 of a closure 3 correspondingly shaped the closures are free to slide upwardly and downwardly on the straw without separating from the straw. Stops 20 and 2| extend outwardly from the surface of the straw, straddling each of the openings I2, and limiting the movement of the closures I3.

The closure I3 is provided with a sealed inner opening 22 in which a vacuum may be provided or the area may be filled with air or other gas.

The closure I3 and also the casing Ill of the straw may be formed of plastic or any suitable material and with the parts arranged in this manner the straw may be inserted in a liquid 23 in a glass or container 24 and as suction is applied to the upper end of the straw the liquid will be drawn into the straw at the points, as indicated by the numerals 25, 26 and 2T and as the liquid is drawn through the Venturi sections of the straw the diierent parts thereof will be thoroughly mixed whereby a thoroughly mixed solution arrives at the upper end.

As the level of the liquid drops below the point 25 the closure I3, which floats, and which is buoyed upwardly7 thereby, drops downwardly drop downwardly to close the openings through closing the opening I2 at the point 25 so that liquid is drawn inwardly only at the points 26 and 27. As the level of the liquid continues to drop the opening at the point 26 will be closed and A likewise the opening at the point 21 will be closed so that liquid in the lower part of the container is drawn inwardly from the lower end of the straw.

It will be understood that although this device is disclosed and described as a drinking straw, it may also be provided in various sizes and used on the suction lines of pumps and the like, and particularly may be used for withdrawing iiuids `from vats, tanks and the like.

It will be understood that 'Inodications may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invenn tion.

What is claimed is:

1. In a drinking straw, the combination which comprises an elongated tubular casing having spaced restricted areas providing venturis therein with inwardly and upwardly sloping openings through the wall thereof and lpositioned to enter the interior of the casing at points 'corresponding with thel throats of the venturis, said tubular casing having parallel rails providing guides on the outer surface stradd'ling the said openings through Vthe wall thereof and having stops at the ends of the guides, and hollow oating closures Vs lid'ably 4mounted in the rails and positioned t'o the wall of the casing.

2. In a drinking straw, the combination which comprises an elongated tubular casing having spaced openings through the wall thereof and having longitudinally disposed tracks on the outer surface, the said tracks positioned to straddle the said openings, and floatable closures slidably mounted in said tracks, positioned to close the said openings through the wall of the tube and also positioned to oat upwardly to open the said openings with the section of the tube upon which the closures are positioned immersed in a uid.

3. In a drinking straw, the combination which comprises an elongated tubular casing having spaced Openings through the wall thereof and having longitudinally disposed tracks on the outer surface, the said tracks positioned to straddle the said openings, and floatable closures slidably mounted in said tracks, positioned to close the said openings through the wall of the tube and also 'positioned to float upwardly to open the said openings with the section of the tube upon Iwhich the closures are positioned immersed in a fluid, said tubular casing having means thereon for limiting upward and vdownward travel of the said oatable closures.

LEXIE E. MITCHELL.

REFERENCES 'CITED The following references are of record -in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Narne Date 1,802,326 Brooks Apr. 23,1931 2,446,384 Murdock Allg. 3, 1948 2,501,593 Becker Mar. 21, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Y lf'ateV 190,886 Great Britain V Jan. 4, 1923 

